Coughlin at best with back against wall
The Tom Coughlin we have come to know and, um, respect was back at the interview podium yesterday, 45 hours after his uncharacteristically giddy "never-better" smile-fest on Christmas Eve.
Good thing, too, because we cannot be having that sort of disorienting spectacle mess with one of New York's most reliable, consistent sports personalities.
Nope, it was back to business for the Giants' coach, business being another MetLife Stadium showdown with another heated rival Sunday night against the Cowboys. "All thoughts are straight ahead," he said, looking straight ahead.
In fairness, Coughlin did have a few light moments with reporters in discussing -- but not in detail, of course -- the left leg injury he suffered on the sideline Saturday, which still had him limping badly.
Mostly, though, his tone reflected the seriousness of the week, for the 2011 Giants and for Coughlin's chances of coaching them beyond the first day of 2012. If the Giants win and secure the NFC East title, Coughlin presumably will be invited back for a ninth season. If they lose, well, we shall see.
That is better than if he had lost to the Jets on Saturday, then lost to the Cowboys, in which case it likely would have been more "see ya" than "we'll see."
Before we get into all that, though, let us take a moment to appreciate the man for what he has done in East Rutherford and how he has done it, mostly with an approach out of another millennium.
There is not another public figure alive with less pretense, less interest in playing politics, less need to impress -- including his bosses.
He arrived in 2004 with powerful interests, especially many players and journalists, inclined to dislike him, and he mostly has worn everyone down through sheer monotonous, corny, old-school steadiness.
Is he beloved? Heavens, no. At least not outside his family, perhaps including his right guard / son-in-law. But respect him? How can you not?
It was as plain as the smile on team president John Mara's face after Saturday's victory that ownership feels that way about the guy, regardless of what it decides about his future.
Mara would not get into a discussion of Coughlin's job security, but his words and demeanor went beyond mere joy over a victory that he said meant more to him than its playoff implications, "given all the noise that's been coming out of Florham Park."
Asked about Coughlin's leg injury, Mara said, "You'd have to kill him to keep him down."
So, what to do with Coughlin?
On one hand, he has clinched his seventh consecutive non-losing season and has done it this year with a hobbled roster.
On the other, he has failed to win a playoff game in all but one of his seasons and has overseen a series of late collapses. If he loses Sunday, he'll have missed the playoffs during three consecutive years in the prime of his franchise quarterback's career.
Plus he is 65. (Defensive end Dave Tollefson did exaggerate a bit when he said of Saturday's sideline collision, "I don't think Tom's taken a hit like that since World War II.")
It is doubtful that Mara will consult me if Coughlin loses Sunday, but if he does, I'll say this: Drop the Giants' policy against lame-duck head coaches, let him play out his contract in 2012 and see what happens.
If the team misses the playoffs again, it surely will be time for a graceful retirement for Coughlin and perhaps a visit to Bill Cowher's house for the owners. But as Mara said, "He seems to be at his best when everybody puts his back against the wall."
How's that leg again, Tom? "Never better," he said Monday, smiling.